AP Environmental Science Unit 5

Tragedy of the Commons

An act with self-interest which overexploits and depletes shared resources

Externalities

Negative costs associated with human actions, that aren’t accounted for in the price

Effects of clear cutting

Increases soil erosion, evaporation of water in soil, nitrates in streams, and amount of soil in the atmosphere. Impacts biodiversity more than selective cutting

Negative effects of tree plantations

Lowers biodiversity and all the same age

General forest benefits

Filtering of air pollutants, removal and storage of CO2 from the atmosphere, habitat for organisms

Deforestation consequences

Reduces air filtering and releases CO2

Slash and burn

Method of clearing land for agriculture by cutting trees and burning them

Furrow irrigation

Trench dug along crops and filled with water, 66% efficient

Drip irrigation

Holes is hose allow water to slowly drip out, 95% effective

Flood irrigation

Flooding entire field, 10% efficient

Spray irrigation

Surface water sprayed through pipes, 90% efficient

Soil salinization

The process of salt building up in soil over time

What does the depletion of aquifers cause

Saltwater intrusion, cone of depression

Green Revolution

A shift in agriculture away from small family operated farms to large industrial scale agribusiness

Monocropping

Growing one single species of crop

Tiling

Mixing and breaking up of soil to make planting easier

Pesticides

Chemicals that are toxic to pests, can cause pests to become resistant

GMOs in crops

Grow for pest resistant trait that is added through genetic modification

CAFO

Concentrated animal feeding operation

Manure lagoons

Large, open storage pits for animal waste

Overgrazing

Too many animals grazing an area of land removes all vegetation

Fishery

Populations of fish for commercial fishing

Fishery collapse

Collapse when overfishing causes 90% population die off, population may never recover

Bottom trawling

Dragging a large net along ocean floor, catches unintended targets and destroys reefs

Ore

Commercially valuable deposits of concentrated minerals that can be harvested and used as raw materials

Metals

Elements that have reduced electricity, heat, and have structural proportions for building

Reserve

The known amount of a resource left that can be mined

Overburden

Soil, vegetation, and rocks that are removed to get to a deposit below

Tailings and slag

Leftover waste material separated from the valuable metal of ore

Surface mining

Mining closer to the surface of the earth, open pit, becoming more scarce

Subsurface mining

More expensive due to higher insurance and health care for workers

Urbanization

The population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change.

Natural storm water drainage

Stormwater infiltrates into the ground. Plants and tree work to absorb stormwater

Urban stormwater drainage

Water hits impervious surface and urns off roofs, streets, parking lots, etc. Runoff goes into the sewers

Urbanization in coastal cities

The process of developing coastal areas for human use. May result in water pollution, habitat loss, and extreme weather

Trends in population

The world is growing more slowly, aging, and becoming more urbanized

Urban sprawl

Uncontrolled expansion of cities into surrounding areas

Solutions to urban sprawl

Public transit, walkable communities, zoning policies

Ecological footprint

The impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their natural resources

Carbon footprint

Measured by how much carbon emissions a person produces

What is the average US ecological footprint?

5.1 Earths

What is the current global footprint?

1.85 Earths

Sustainability

The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising on the present

Maximum sustainable yield

The maximum amount of a renewable resource that can be harvested without reducing or depleting the resource for future use

Biodiversity

The variety of life on Earth, all living organisms and ecosystems

Environmental consequences of urban runoff

Runoff can carry pollutants like oil, pesticides, fertilizer, and bacteria into waterways

Permeable pavement

Specifically designed to allow stormwater to infiltrate groundwater, more costly than traditional pavement

Rain gardens

Gardens planted in urban areas around a storm drain, decreases runoff

Public transit

More cars on the road = more pollutants on streets, public transit decreases runoff

Building Up, Not Out

Building vertically decreases impervious surfaces, can be combined with green roof or rooftop gradens

Integrated Pest Management

Using a variety of pest control methods that minimize the environmental disruption and pesticide use

Biocontrol

Introducing a natural predator, parasite, or competitor to control the pest population

Crop rotation (IPM)

Rotating crops can prevent pests from becoming established

Soil conservation

Agricultural techniques that minimize erosion

Contour plowing

Plowing parallel to the natural slopes

Terracing

Creating flat platforms, or terraces, on a mountainside

Perennial crops

Crops that live year round

Windbreaks

Using trees or other plants to break wind

No till

Adding leftover crop remains to soil

Strip cropping

Form of intercropping, using alternating rows of different crops

Green manure

Leftover plant material after a growing season

Limestone in soil

Releases calcium carbonate (base) which neutralizes the soil

Prescribed burning

A controlled burn in a forest area